News

  • Home > News

        Lenovo device combines Windows netbook with Linux tablet

        Eric Brown | Date: Jan 6, 2010 | Comments: 1


        Lenovo announced a device that is part Windows netbook, part Linux-based tablet. The IdeaPad U1 features an 11.6-inch touchscreen that includes a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, plus a base unit with an dual-core Pentium CPU, the company says.

        Lenovo's novel IdeaPad U1 hybrid (right) offers two devices in one: afull, 3.8-pound notebook running Windows 7 on an x86-based, dual-core Pentium, and a detachable, 1.6-pound tablet display running Linux on aARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon. The 11.6-inch touchscreen is said to offermulti-touch capability and offer "HD" resolution.

        The two devices, processors, and operating systems "synchronize towork as one, with the ability to share battery power, 3G wireless, dataand documents," says Lenovo. Users can toggle between the two systems,enabling them to, for example, surf the web in laptop mode and thencontinue from the same point without interruption when the tablet isdetached, says the company.

        In either laptop or tablet mode, the device supports more thanfive hours of 3G web browsing and 60 hours of 3G standby, says Lenovo.In addition, the U1 is said to offer an integrated video camera, stereospeakers, and an integrated microphone with echo cancellation.

        Lenovo itself provided no additional hardware details, but according to reports by Laptop magazine, Engadget, and Gizmodo, the IdeaPad U1's touchscreen/tablet provides 1366 x 768 resolution whether or not it is docked. When connected to its keyboard, the device runs Windows 7 with the aid of a dual-core Intel processor (reportedly the Pentium SU4100) and a 128GB SSD (solid state drive).

        IdeaPad U1
        (Click on either to enlarge)

        The tablet meanwhile, has its own WiFi card, 3G connectivity, webcam, an accelerometer, and 16 GB of flash storage, according to Laptop. When removed from the base unit, the screen switches to Linux in approximately three seconds, according to the websites cited above. (Meanwhile, Laptop adds, if a monitor is connected to the base unit's HDMI port, Windows can continue to be used even when the tablet is off doing its Linux schtick.)

        Like the ARM smartbook (right) Lenovo also announced today -- see LinuxDevices.com, here, for details -- the IdeaPad U1 uses the company's homegrown Skylight Linux distribution. This operating environment is said to supply more than 18 preloadedweb gadgets for sites including Google Gmail, Facebook, YouTube, AmazonMP3, and Roxio CinemaNow (see image below).

        According to Laptop, a forthcoming SDK will allow third parties to develop more of these widgets. Skylight already offers Adobe Flash 10, as well as an e-reader app that supports text and PDF files, the story adds.



        Close-up of Skylight's "web gadgets"
        (Click to enlarge)

        OUR VERDICT:
        An impressive technical achievement, but we wonder how useful such a hybrid will actually be
        As mentioned earlier in this story, the IdeaPad U1 features "Hybrid Switch" technology, via which a user can be browsing multiple web pages in either of the system's two operating modes, then see them reload automatically when the device is docked or undocked. The Laptop and Gizmodo reports note that there's currently no such synchronization for other applications, but speculate that Lenovo might provide further integration before the system is released.

        Stated Liu Jun, SVP, Idea Product Group, Lenovo, "The IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook is a game-changing technology in the PC industry that lets userswitch their PC experience within asingle device to match theirdynamic lifestyle. By fusing the functionality of a notebook with the slate tablet's rich multitouch entertainment and mobile Internet experience, U1 provides consumers the freedom to choose the device they prefer for any activity."

        A demonstration of the IdeaPad U1 being undocked
        Source: Engadget
        (click to play)

        A demonstration of the U1 in tablet mode
        Source: Engadget
        (click to play)

        Availability

        The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook will be available on June 1, with an estimated retail price of $1,000. More on the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid may be found on the company's website, here.

        An eWEEK story on the IdeaPad U1 may be found here. Meantime, Laptop, Engadget, and Gizmodo reports on the device may be found here, here, and here, respectively.

        Related stories: